Pre-Cruise Transfer

[droz]

Hi all, next week we be all be leaving to start our cruise from Athens. Has anyone chose a pre-cruise stay with transfers?

 

Upon arrival at the airport, where did Viking meet you for pickup? Did the pick-up go smoothly? Is there anything we should know before hand?

 

Was there any communications from Viking besides the travel documentation about the transfer?

 

Is there anything that would helpful after the hotel stay for the transfer to the ship?

 

Looking forward to our cruise.

 

Thanks for any tidbits of help.

 

 

[Marykatesmom]

I just have the airport to cruise ship transfers.  Has anyone had to wait very long to be transported to the ship?

 

[eylarson]

Viking reps will be outside customs with a Viking sign.  On one occasion they handled the luggage, on the other we maneuvered bags to the ground transport a bus like the rental car agencies use.   All very efficient.  You will want to take a bio break before leaving.  Athens traffic can slow your arrival at the ship or hotel.  If I didn't have euros I would use an airport ATM to get euros and buy some mints or something to get some smaller bill/coins to tip driver and porter.  

[Peregrina651]

Viking will be there watching and waiting for you as you emerge from customs or as you reach the arrivals hall (if you have already been through customs at another airport). Look for Viking reps in red vests, maybe carrying a red Viking lollipop -- round red sign on a pole.. Your exact transportation to the hotel will depend on how many people are arriving around the time you are. When we did a pre-cruise in Prague, we were put into a private car.  There should be a greeter at the hotel who will tell you when and where to meet for any included tours and about transfer by bus to the ship on embarkation day. There will be a Viking rep at the hotel and you will be given the rep's on duty hours.

 

For those arriving and heading to the ship,  how quickly you get to the ship depends on many things, but mostly it depends on the buses that will be going back and forth between the ship and the airport. The buses that bring departing guests to the airport are the same buses that will carry arriving passengers back to the ship. Wait time also depends on your arrival time and how quickly you get through formalities (customs, retrieving your bags, etc.) and the availability  of the next bus.